NEC Contracts Launches NEC Digital: Transforming Collaborative Contracting for the Digital Age

NEC Contracts has unveiled NEC Digital, a new online contract drafting platform that brings the internationally recognised NEC suite of contracts into the digital era. This innovative subscription-based service represents a fundamental shift in how clients, contractors, consultants and project teams create, manage and collaborate on contracts.

Beyond Digitisation: A Purpose-Built Solution

NEC Digital is far more than a digital replica of paper contracts. Built on NEC's core principles of clarity, simplicity and collaboration, the platform has been specifically designed around the real-world needs of construction and infrastructure professionals. It delivers seamless access, robust management capabilities and brings all project stakeholders together on a single, unified platform.

The launch addresses a critical industry need. Recent NEC Contracts research shows that 82% of industry professionals support wider adoption of collaborative contracts, recognising their proven benefits in reducing costs, improving efficiency, minimising disputes and enhancing sustainability outcomes.

Intelligent Features for Modern Projects

NEC Digital introduces several powerful capabilities that transform the contracting process:

Guided Contract Setup provides intelligent configuration tools that help users select appropriate main and secondary options for their specific project requirements. The platform's intuitive side-by-side ‘Clause Navigator’ view displays the detail of these options alongside relevant clauses, whilst contextual guidance supports informed decision-making at every stage.

Comprehensive Contract Library includes all main options (A to F), the full range of secondary clauses, and an organizational Z clause library built from users' previously drafted clauses. The platform features dispute option selection (W1-W3) and intelligent compatibility checking that prevents the selection of incompatible clauses, significantly reducing errors and potential disputes.

Enhanced Collaboration Tools unite teams on a single platform with multi-access points for different stakeholders, suppliers and contractors. Sophisticated permission controls ensure only authorised personnel can view and edit documents, maintaining complete version integrity throughout the project lifecycle.

Secure Tender Management streamlines the bidding process by providing contractors with secure access to Contract Data 1 through a simple link. The platform delivers the same interactive guidance to bidders, ensuring high-quality submissions, whilst the clause navigator and Contract Data 2 bid flow provide complete visibility of all contractor-selected clauses and parameters.

Meeting Industry Challenges Head-On

Rekha Thawrani OBE, Global Director at NEC Contracts, explained the rationale behind the launch: "With the industry evolving rapidly and facing multiple challenges, paper-based contract processes are no longer sufficient for today's complex, multi-stakeholder projects. NEC Digital transforms the contracting process and brings the NEC suite into the digital age with an efficient, transparent and intuitive approach, offering users the confidence and assurance of the highest quality contract outcomes."

A Future-Ready Solution

NEC Digital positions organisations for success in an increasingly digital construction landscape by making collaborative contracting faster, simpler and more accessible. The platform delivers comprehensive guidance throughout the contracting process, contextual support for critical decisions, and enhanced tools that facilitate genuine teamwork and collaboration.

For construction and infrastructure professionals seeking to embrace collaborative contracting practices and improve project outcomes, NEC Digital represents a significant step forward in contract management technology.